Self-centering uncoiler



Aug. 31, 1954 E. T. LORIG SELF-CENTERING UNCOILER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 14, 1950 INVENTOR EDWIN T. Lome ATTORNEY Aug. 31, 1954 E. T. LoRlG SELF-CENTERING UNCOILER 2 Sheets-Sheekl 2 Filed Deo. 14, 1950 IVENTOR-- EDWIN T. Lome ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1954 SELF-CENTERING UNCOILER Edwin. T. Lorig, Ross Township,

Allegheny County, Pa., assigner to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 14, 1950, Serial No. 200,853

Claims.

This invention relates to an uncoiler for uncoiling coils of steel strip and more particularly to an uncoiler of the mandrel type. In this type of uncoiler the coil is mounted on a mandrel which extends through the center thereof and the strip is pulled therefrom and fed to processing equipment. As the coil unwinds there is a tendency for it to work from side to side and therefore guides have been provided to prevent excessive movement. These guides are expensive and cause damage to the edges of the strip. There also is danger that small pieces of metal will be torn from the edges of the strip and will get between the convolutions of the coil when the strip is recoiled, thus causing further damage to the strip in subsequent operations.

It is an object of my invention to provide an uncoiler of the mandrel type in which the coil is maintained in centered position as the strip is unwound.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a coil supported on the mandrel of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a View taken on the line III-III of Figure 1 with the coil of strip removed therefrom;

Figure 4 is a view of a modification, similar to Figure 1, showing a two part mandrel with one part in retracted position and the other part in forward position;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line V--V of Figure 6; and

Figure 6 is a view of the mandrel of Figure 3 showing the parts thereof in interlocked position and supporting a coil of strip.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a reciprocating carriage for supporting a mandrel shaft 4. The carriage 2 is mounted for reciprocation on a track 5. A supporting block 8 is mounted on the end of the mandrel shaft 4 remote from the carriage 2 and a second supporting block IIJ is mounted on the shaft 4 intermediate the ends thereof. The housing is provided with aligned spaced apart bearings I2 and I4 for the supports 8 and I0, respectively. A guide I5 is provided for supporting block il] between the carriage 2 and bearing I4. The shaft 4 is provided with a V-shaped bent portion I6 between the supports 8 and Eil. The legs 0f the V extend slightly downwardly toward each other as best shown in Figure 1. A pair of frusto-conical rolls I8 and 20 are rotatably mounted on the legsof the bent portion I6. For this purpose, roller bearings 22 are provided on the shaft 4. The rolls I8 and 2t are frusto-conical in shape with their large diameter ends being adjacent each other. The rolls are slightly spaced from each other and are provided with gears 24 on their adjacent ends so that the rolls must rotate in synchronism. The frusto-conical rolls I8 and 20 form a self-centering roll of the type shown in my copending application, Serial No. 97,218, filed June 4, 1949, now Patent No. 2,593,157, dated April 15, 1952. The top of the rolls I8 and 20 are in substantial alignment to receive a coil of strip S. Other selfcentering rollsof the type shown in my copending applications, Serial No. 138,389, filed January 13, 1950, now Patent No. 2,592,581, dated April 15, 1952, and Serial N0. 145,648, filed February 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,593,158, dated April 15, 1952, may be substituted for the selfcentering rolls of the type shown. The strip S is pulled from the mandrel beneath an idler roll 2S andy over a second idler roll 28 to the processing equipment. The mandrel, functioning as a self-centering roll, will preventthe coil of strip from moving axially. After'the coil is unwound the carriage 2 is retracted to a position where. the

supporting block I0 rests on the guide I5 and the block 8 rests in the bearing I4. A new coil is then brought into position and the carriage 2 is moved to the position shown in Figure 1.

In the second embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, two mandrel shafts 30 and 32 are mounted on carriages 34. Only the left hand carriage is shown, it being understood that the right hand carriage is the lsame as the one shown. Each of the carriages is mounted for movement on a trackway 36. Mounted on the shafts 30 and 32 intermediate the ends thereof are supporting blocks 38 and 40, respectively. The uncoiler housing is provided with spaced ,apart aligned bearings 42 and 44 for receiving the supporting blocks 38 and 40, respectively. The ends of the shafts 30 and 32 are provided with reduced end portions 46 and 48, respectively, with the axes thereof being bent slightly downwardly. The portion 46 is provided with a frusto-conical male member 50 which is received in a similarly 'shaped female portion 52 in the end of the reduced' portion 48. Frusto-conical rolls 54 and 56 are mounted on the reduced portions 46 and 48 with their large diameter ends adjacent each other. The rolls 54 and 56 are mounted for rotation on bearings 58 and 60, respectively. The rolls 54 and 56 are held in place by means of nuts 62 and 64 threaded on the shafts 30 and 32,

respectively. The ends of the rolls 54 and 56 are provided with gear teeth 66 for connecting the rolls for synchronous rotary movement when they are in their inner position as shown in Figure 6. Guideways 61 are provided adjacent the bearings 42 and 44 for receiving the supporting blocks 38,and 40.

In thiszembodimenttof my invention the coil of strip S' is unwound in the same manner as in the first embodiment. When it is desired to place.,Y

a coil of strip S on the mandrel, the carriages 34 are retracted until the roll 56 is initherposi-tion,

shown in Figure 4 with the supporting block 40 resting on the guideway 6Fl-fandtherolltl 5k. is

retracted to a similar position. K coil isplaced in position and the carriages 34 are moved toward each other until the supports,t 38and llora-rereceived in the bearings 42 and 44, respectively, As shown in Figure 6, the male and female connections 50 and 52 act to center the rolls 54 and 55 andl holdf: them in i stable'` relationship whilethe-V coil -is beingunwound;I

The operation -of-the deviceis the same as that of my rstfembodiment and4 other 'types of selfcentering *rolls :may besubstituted vfor that shown. While several.t embodimentsaof my. invention have been shown and described itl willvbe apparent. that other adaptations and" modifications maybe-made withoutfdepartingYfromy the scope of '-theff ollowing clair'ns;`

Iclaim:

1 Any uncoilercomprisingA apair offrustoconical rolls.arranged=with their large diameter ends: adjacent each' other,` said-rolls beingA arranged'iwith their-axesof rotationv converging slightly downwardly toward each other, andy means connecting saidl' rolls for: positive synchronousnrotary movement.

2i An uncoiler comprising aY stationary substantiallyl horizontal'.b'entv shaft,v a pair-of frusto.- con-ical? rolls rotatably:v mounted'. onI saidshaft with their,l largediameter ends@- b'eing adjacentl each other, said.l rolls being; arranged iWith their axestzoffrotation .converging slightly downwardly towardreach other; and. means connectingsaid rolls; for: positive synchronousf rotaryv movement;

3.'. An uncoiler.A comprising: a pair. of:` substanv.

large' diameter endsv being adjacent each other, t .saidrolls. being. arranged with their axes of rotation converging slightly downwardly toward eachother, aimal'e and female connection between the ends of said shafts, and means connecting y said`rolls for positive synchronous rotary movement when they are in their inner position,

5-.1 uncoiler comprising a stationary substantiallyhorizonta-l'sha-ft having a bent portion thereon,- apair-of' frusto-conical rolls rotatably mounted on the bentA portion'A of said shaft with their largal diameter' end's'being adjacent each other; said rolls being'iarra-nged'with their axes offrotationconverging slightly' downwardly to- Wardeaehother, means connecting saidV rolls forV positive synchronous' rotary movement, a'housing, spaced "apart bearings in said housing, asupport on-said shaft' orr eaelrsdeof'said bent portion, saidf supportsbeing received in said'bearings when the'uncoiler isfin operativeposition, and meansl for-reciprocating said' shaft References Cited in theleof this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name.- Date 969,833 Vrooman Jan. 12, 19094 1,241,852; LeRud ,Dec.- 31, 1929 1,846r665; Adams: Feb. 23, 1932 1,879,232 Henry Sept.` 27, 1932 1,927,849 Roberts Sept..26 1933 2,087,010f Wardleet'al July 13, 1937 2,11'75640' Weannetal.' MayA 17, 1938 2,298,759 Fouse Oct; 13,'l 1942 

